Systems and methods for producing energy from a geothermal formation. A heat exchanger can be disposed within a well to absorb heat from a geothermal formation. The heat exchanger can be supported within the well using a high thermal conductivity material. The heat exchanger is connected to an organic Rankine cycle engine including a secondary heat exchanger and a turbine. The primary and secondary heat transfer fluids are chosen to maximize efficiency of the organic Rankine cycle.

The invention is a broadly dispatchable, optimized low to medium temperature (about 350° F. to 600° F.) geothermal energy production system to generate electricity. The invention comprises (i) a pipeline for the closed circulation of a working fluid which absorbs subterranean heat to create a superheated fluid during circulation, (ii) a pump for circulating the heatable fluid at high volumes, (iii) a chamber to convert the superheated fluid into a vapor, (iv) a heat exchanger to extract heat from the vapor, (v) an Organic Rankine Cycle engine (or similar device) powered by extracted heat and (v) a turbine driven by the Organic Rankine Cycle engine to produce electricity.

A system and method of generating electricity. A work string extends into a wellbore. A heat pump unit at a surface location circulates a working fluid through the work string to absorb heat from a formation surrounding the wellbore. A turbine generates a rotation from the working fluid that has absorbed the heat. A generator generates electricity from the rotation of the turbine. The electricity is transmitted to the surface location via an electrical cable.

Renewable geothermal energy harvesting methods may include distributing at least one working fluid from a ground surface into thermal contact with a subterranean geothermal formation; transferring thermal energy from the geothermal formation to the working fluid; distributing the working fluid to the ground surface; and distributing the working fluid directly to at least one thermal application system. Renewable geothermal energy harvesting systems are also disclosed.

Systems and methods for generating and a controller for controlling generation of geothermal power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation to thereby supply electrical power to one or more of in-field operational equipment, a grid power structure, and an energy storage device. In an embodiment, during hydrocarbon production, a temperature of a flow of heated fluid from a source or working fluid may be determined. If the temperature is above a vaporous phase change threshold of the working fluid, heat exchanger valves may be opened to divert flow of heated fluid to heat exchangers to facilitate heat transfer from the flow of wellhead fluid to working fluid through the heat exchangers, thereby to cause the working fluid to change from a liquid to vapor, the vapor to cause a generator to generate electrical power via rotation of an expander.

Embodiments of systems and methods for generating power in the vicinity of a drilling rig are disclosed. During a drilling operation, heat generated by drilling fluid flowing from a borehole, exhaust from an engine, and/or fluid from an engine's water (or other fluid) jacket, for example, may be utilized by corresponding heat exchangers to facilitate heat transfer to a working fluid. The heated working fluid may cause an ORC unit to generate electrical power.

Embodiments of systems and methods for generating power in the vicinity of a drilling rig are disclosed. During a drilling operation, heat generated by drilling fluid flowing from a borehole, exhaust from an engine, and/or fluid from an engine's water (or other fluid) jacket, for example, may be utilized by corresponding heat exchangers to facilitate heat transfer to a working fluid. The heated working fluid may cause an ORC unit to generate electrical power.

Embodiments of systems and methods for generating power in the vicinity of a drilling rig are disclosed. During a drilling operation, heat generated by drilling fluid flowing from a borehole, exhaust from an engine, and/or fluid from an engine's water (or other fluid) jacket, for example, may be utilized by corresponding heat exchangers to facilitate heat transfer to a working fluid. The heated working fluid may cause an ORC unit to generate electrical power.

A geothermal well is provided including a first tube including at least one opening in a first depth; a second tube having a closed bottom in a second depth; and a third tube having a closed bottom in a third depth. The first tube is inside the second tube, which is inside the third tube, wherein the first tube has at least one opening in fluid communication with a first interspace between the first tube and the second tube; wherein the third depth and the first depth are smaller than the second depth. Through-holes are formed in the second tube above the bottom of the third tube, which allow fluid communication between the first interspace and a second interspace between the second tube and the third tube. A first sealing element and a heat insulating material are disposed in the first interspace above the through-holes.

It is provided a power generation model based on a transcritical cycle with an increasing-pressure endothermic process using CO.sub.2-based mixture working fluids for an enhanced geothermal system, including a geothermal water circulation, a mixture working fluid circulation and a cooling water circulation. A coaxial pipe-in-pipe downhole heat exchanger is provided in the mixture working fluid circulation. Innovations are reflected in that an increasing-pressure endothermic process is achieved due to making use of gravity and hence increase a heat quantity absorbed in a cycle, thereby improving power generation quantity of the cycle; and a binary mixture working fluid composed of CO.sub.2 and an organic working fluid is adopted to realize a transcritical power cycle with an increasing-pressure endothermic process and a decreasing-temperature exothermic process, thereby effectively reducing irreversibility of a heat transfer between a working fluid and a heat source and improving power cycle efficiency.